New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-12
BILLS FOR PUBLIC DEFENCE.

THREE REPUBLICAN SENATORS INTRODUCING PA
TRIOTIC MEASURES.
WARRINGTON, Feb ia bill was introo"cou IN
the Senate to-day by Mr. Stanford to provide mor'ars
and heavy guns for the armament OF the Iorts coast
defences and vessels of the United States. Inc sec
Rotary of War and the Secretary OF the Navy JOINTLY
ara directed to select associations firms or fndividu
ais who at thei. own expense and for the purpose OF
constructing mortars and heavy guns, 1oi tne use
of the United States shall be authorized to establish
four several ordnance plants to be located at South
Boston Mass: Pittsbury, Penn; Birmingham, Ala
and San Francisco, Cal The Secretaries for the IN
formation OF the parties invited to establish ordnance
plants shall furnish memoranda containing nforma-
ton concerning the character and value OF the plant
required tho aggregate value of each plant to be not
less than O0OOO0 the character OF Material to DC
used in construction; the character. number ana
mum gun to be six inches in diameter OF bore, the
maximum Eun to weigh 100 tons and the time OF COM
pleton and order of delivery.
All the material used III the construction OF plant
mortars and guns, must be of domestic production.
For the work done remuneratve and reasonable COM
pensation, to be agreed upon by the contracting
parties shall be paid and to induce the investment OF
private capitl In said ordnance plants and TO prptect
the investors agsinst los the Secretaries OF ar ana
the Navy will in behalf OF the United States for the
period OF ten years from the date OF the eontrac.s
guarantee the partes owning SAID ordnance bs
shall amount In value annually, TO $l,ooo'ooV. ~
On. provision contemplates the necessity OF the
to sell when Called Upon Yet another provision
reouires the builders OF the plants to be ready for
work on the guns, etc., twenty -four months after
signing their contracts
bill was also introduced by Senator Cameron to-
da, for the Increase OF the Naval establishments III
AL horzes the President to have constructed Dy con-
tract ten protected steel cruisers with such armament
tor each as the Navy Department may deem suitable
each vessel to have xmum speed OF twenty Knots
under test and conditions imposed by the Navy De-
partment, before being accepted by the Goveih~ent
The aggreate cost all OF the cruisers exclusive OIL
armament is to exceed ,OOO BOO, tor the appro
pration Of which the bill provides One section
provides that in either OF the vessels shali on
trial display a speed greater than twenty knots.
bonus shall be paid TO the contractor OF ior
the first knot in excess of twenty and oil SloO,oOo
tor the second knot in OF the requirements anu
of 900 for each additional knot beyond lire
II ents For the purposes OF this section SZ,oooOVo
or 40 much as NAV he necessary is appropriated The
bill approprates 81, 100000 for the armament OF
the vessels provided for in the act -
A companion bill was introduced by senator maze
which provides that for the purpose OF increasing 'he
Naval establishment the following sums OF money
are appropriated be expended by the President IN
the exercise bis discretion upon plans ana speci-
cations be furnished by the Navy Department; for
the construction OF heavily armored vessels or arored
40 ting batteries or rams to be used tor coast ana
harbor de ence 10000, 600; tor the construction oil
light araught gunboats, suitable Tor interior water
WAYS and canal service 81 200 000 for the constl
ton OF torpedo boats OF the highest atainabe speed
and efficiency 5000 1000; for tJrpedoes and torpedo
appliances be operated from Naval vessels, noatinS
batteries or rams, $6O0.OOO
1t is pro yded that the gunboats and torPedo poas
authorized TO be constructed bv the act shall be com
peted and tested within twelve months from the sign
ing OF contract tor their construction.